Baby girl Review: A Familiar Emergency thriller That Runs Out of Surprises
Story
Written by the duo Bobby–Sanjay and directed by Arun Varma, Baby Girl unfolds over a tense, time-bound crisis—clearly echoing the structural dna of Traffic. Set largely within Good Shepherd Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, the story begins when a newborn baby girl goes missing, triggering panic and a race against time. The police launch an investigation, aided initially by hospital attendant Sanal. However, when the probe hits a dead end, suspicion turns toward Sanal himself. What follows is a parallel narrative of the police and Sanal trying to locate the baby before it’s too late.
The film wastes no time easing in—right from the opening minutes, it dives headfirst into the plot. The setup is engaging, the premise solid, and the early progression suggests a tightly wound thriller. Unfortunately, as the narrative moves forward, the screenplay begins to reveal its cards far too early, draining tension and making the outcome increasingly predictable.
Performances
Nivin Pauly is positioned as the face of the film, but his actual screen time is surprisingly limited and scattered. While his presence gives the film visibility, the writing doesn’t give him enough space to fully register emotionally. Several dialogue-heavy moments meant to underline his character’s desperation and moral urgency fall flat due to stiff writing and delivery.
Lijomol Jose stands out by grounding her role with authenticity, effectively conveying anxiety and emotional strain. Sangeeth Prathap steps away from his usual humour-centric roles and delivers a commendable performance, especially in the film’s closing stretch, where a phone conversation becomes his standout moment. Abhimanyu S Thilakan looks the part of a police officer and benefits from a commanding voice, but his dialogue modulation remains monotonous, weakening otherwise important scenes.
Technicalities
Technically, Baby Girl is competent but not remarkable. The cinematography captures the controlled chaos of hospital interiors and police operations effectively. Editing keeps the film brisk, especially in the first half, though the second half could have benefited from sharper trimming. The background score does its job of sustaining urgency, but rarely elevates scenes beyond their written limitations. From a craft perspective, the film ticks the right boxes without ever pushing boundaries.
Analysis
The biggest issue with Baby Girl lies in its writing choices. The screenplay leans heavily on familiar thriller tropes—early “breakthroughs” that are clearly designed to fail, obvious red herrings, and character reveals that seasoned viewers can see coming from miles away. The interval block, which is meant to heighten stakes, strongly recalls Traffic but without the same narrative payoff.
Director Arun varma appears unable to smooth out the stiffness and clichés embedded in the script. Emotional beats feel manufactured rather than organic, and certain subplots—such as a forced women-empowerment arc followed by an overextended chase—come across as message-driven insertions rather than natural story developments. While the film attempts misdirection at a couple of key moments, the lack of surrounding narrative strength prevents those twists from delivering any real cinematic high.
What Works
• A strong, time-bound premise with inherent urgency
• Lijomol Jose’s authentic performance
• Sangeeth Prathap’s effective turn outside his comfort zone
• Realistic detailing of hospital and police procedures
What Doesn’t
• Highly predictable screenplay that underestimates the audience
• Underwritten and stiff emotional moments
• Nivin Pauly’s limited impact despite top billing
• Forced thematic insertions that disrupt narrative flow
Bottom Line
Baby Girl is a well-intentioned thriller that mistakes familiarity for effectiveness. While its premise and early momentum promise a gripping ride, the film steadily loses steam due to predictable writing and uneven execution. It may appeal to viewers drawn to message-oriented cinema, but for those seeking tension, novelty, and surprise, this one falls short.
click and follow Indiaherald WhatsApp channel